Chapter 11

Jay had to knock four times before he finally heard movement inside, and he chewed his lip wondering if he’d awakened Drake. He hadn’t meant to do that. It was almost ten, he thought for sure Drake would be awake by now.

The door opened, but it wasn’t Drake. A tall, ridiculously gorgeous, dark-haired guy stood just inside the door. He looked like a movie star with his piercing blue eyes and the dimple next to his mouth. He wore only a bathroom robe and his dark hair appeared damp.

“Can I help you?”

“I-I was looking for Drake. I’m his neighbor.”

The guy nodded and held the door wide open. “Come in.”

Jay stepped inside and looked around for Drake. “Is he here?”

“He went to get some breakfast. I’m sure he’ll be back any moment. Who are you?”

“Jay, his next door neighbor.”

“Oh.” The guy smiled. “So you’re the one.”

“The one?” Jay asked cautiously.

“Uh-huh. Drake’s mentioned you.”

“And you are?”

“Ross.” He glanced at what Jay held in his hands. “What’s that?”

Jay’s stomach dropped. He’d never seen the infamous Ross before, and while he knew from Drake that Ross was handsome, he’d never had a clue he was drop-dead gorgeous. No wonder Drake had no interest in Jay if he went for guys like Ross. “Oh, um. I wanted to show it to Drake. My nephew’s school is having a fundraiser.”

Ross smirked. “Oh, how cute. That’s quite the excuse.”

“Excuse?”

“Please. It’s obvious. You wanted to come over here to get Drake’s attention. Save it, kid. I’m sure it’s tough being lonely and pathetic and living next door to Drake, and it’s sweet he’s nice to you and all, but really, you haven’t got a chance.”

Jay blinked, not sure he heard this guy right. “Pardon?”

“I know all about you. Drake told me he’s got this lonely, pathetic gay neighbor he spends time with because he feels sorry for him.” Ross rolled his eyes. “You’ve got yourself a little crush. I get it. Drake’s hot.”

Jay backed up, his heart pounding. “He feels sorry for me?”

Ross’s smirk got smarmier. “That’s what he said. But don’t take it personally, Jay. Drake has always befriended the friendless. He likes helping people. Probably why he became a cop.” He shrugged. “I wanted to get the criminals; he wanted to help the victims.”

Frowning, Jay shook his head. “I’m not a victim.”

“I didn’t say you were. Did you want to leave that here for Drake to see when he comes back?” Ross gestured to the brochure in Jay’s hand once more.

Jay handed it to him. “Yeah. Um, I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Quite all right. I’m sure Drake will be happy to help your nephew.”

He turned toward Drake’s door, feeling more like an idiot than usual.

“See you, Jay,” Ross called after him as he left.

Was he really that clueless, Jay wondered when he re-entered his own apartment. He had known Drake didn’t want him, but he’d at least thought Drake liked him and didn’t think him pathetic. But if Drake had been telling Ross he felt sorry for his pathetic neighbor—

“Fuck.”

That was just great.

Jay went down the hall to his linen closet and felt behind a stack of folded towels and pulled out a pack of cigarettes he kept hidden from himself. No sense keeping temptation so close. Shaking, he went onto his balcony and lit up.

He hated this weakness. Hated that he couldn’t quite quit. His abusive ex-boyfriend had gotten him into smoking. The asshole.

Jay blew out smoke and thought about what he wanted to do. He wanted to go to the store and buy that damn watercolor scarf for one. And then…well, maybe he should go to a club and see if he could meet someone. Or go to Poppy’s and find that guy who wanted to ask him out.

Anything but stay in his apartment and be…pathetic.

* * * *

Jay bit his lip as he sorted through the scarves. There were several bright colored ones he really liked, even a few neutrals, but he couldn’t find the one Franny had shown him and he was getting more and more frustrated.

“Can I help…oh, it’s you, Jay.” Franny smiled at him when he turned around. “Gonna buy a new scarf on your day off?”

“Well, I was, but I can’t find it. Where’s the one you showed me the other day?”

The smile dropped from her face. “I’m sorry, Jay, a guy came in and bought it. I think it was for his boyfriend.”

Jay tried to push aside the overwhelming disappointment. He needed to spend over eighty bucks on a scarf like he needed a hole in the head. But damn, he had been hoping that scarf would cheer him up.